The pilot phase of the Blue School Programme was launched in October 2021 in South Africa by the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) and is funded by the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa. The aim is to get learners of these schools to think about their connections to the ocean, increase their ocean literacy and encourage their curiosity and problem-solving skills in designing their research project. These first few workshops allowed the science engagement team to make sure that the learners have the knowledge, confidence, skills and resources to ask and answer their research questions before they embark on their research project and continue their Blue Schools journey. We have implemented three workshops that have inspired learners from coastal and inland schools to think creatively when designing their research projects.